Friday 7th February 2025

I think this was the best day I have had in Sri Lanka this time round, and one of the best ever, as the Sports Meet was really quite sensational. The RIS Vision Statement reads as follows: 'To inspire the next generation of leadership in Sri Lanka, with each student a success story', and they fulfilled that brief big time today, as for each of the hundreds of students taking part today, it was a success story for them, and a huge privilege for me to be the Chief Guest.

As the Chief Guest, along with the Guest of Honour, Mr. Mohammed Siddeek, who is President of the Kurunegala District Cricket Association, and others, we were escorted into the main arena by two horses and the Royal International School Brass Band! It had all the pomp and ceremony of a special occasion, and it was a little nerve-wracking, but also a lot of fun, for a very ordinary person like me to be treated so generously by a school that I have such great affection for now.

There was so much going on here, as the four Houses - Shakespeare, Einstein, Lincoln and Darwin - competed against each other, with Einstein House winning the day, amidst wild celebrations. Each house had constructed their own base, and their points were accumulated from a range of sporting activities, not just the athletics events that we had today. There were also huge dance spectacles, fitness and judo demonstrations, and cultural displays.

I had the most wonderful day, complete with a little presentation for me being the Chief Guest, and one of the highlights for me when was when it was all over, and there were more than 3,000 staff, students, parents and guests milling around on the giant school field, in what I can only describe as a sort of euphoric atmosphere, which I just soaked up internally, as it left me with such a warm, fuzzy feeling of absolute contentment at having witnessed such a wonderful spectacle today.

Alas, I feel that today's photographs don't really do today's wonderful event full justice (and I couldn't take one of me being paraded in by the two horses and the RIS Brass Band), but I managed to take a few nice photographs of the event from the stage where we were seated, and in the evening, after everyone had gone, I took some lovely ones of the bases that each house had constructed, plus a very tall watchtower that had been built by the Royal International School Scouts Group. I may get further photos of the occasion next week to show you.















Comments

  1. CharlesFebruary 11, 2025 at 12:40 AM

    What a special occasion for you to witness as Chief Guest. You are becoming quite a local celebrity!

    ReplyDelete

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